Consultant CPI- (PHEOC)

Contract

This is a No grade contract. More about No grade contracts.

International Consultant at Band B level

1.Purpose of the Consultancy

To support regional efforts to scale up preparedness and operational readiness level through building and developing the capacity of Public Health Emergency Operation Centres (PHEOC) in countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region.

2. Background

Within the Programme, the Country Health Emergency Preparedness & the International Health Regulations (2005) unit (CPI) oversees the monitoring and evaluation of countries’ preparedness to health and humanitarian emergencies, the planning and country capacity building for critical capacities, and serves Regionally as the Secretariat of the International Health Regulations (2005). The CPI unit prioritizes support to the most vulnerable and low capacity countries and works incorporating an all-hazards approach at all three levels of the Organization

The need for data management and information technology support in enhancing preparedness and operational readiness to health emergencies is well articulated. Within CPI, the area of PHEOC needs the combined support of public health and information technology. PHEOC is the main platform for leading the management of health emergencies by the health sector, sharing information, performing risk assessment and coordinating response operations and also at the hospital level for coordinating support to emergency care and mass casualties related to different emergencies. During a health emergency, the amount of data that is generated is usually massive and require rapid and instant management and information technology skills to allow for using the right software and find solution in case of data related problems. Thus, PHEOC heavily relies on information technologies to scale up risk management and response operations. The second area is electronic platform that allows for real-time information sharing between the different sectors, mainly the animal and human sectors. This can be part of the PHEOC or a separate platform but eventually feed data into the emergency operating centre. The real time information sharing between sectors in necessary for the early detection of public health events, rapid risk assessment, notification to WHO under the International Health Regulations (2005) and coordinating the response through the PHEOC.

Ensuring that PHEOC have the sufficient and trained personnel with a plan for the continuous capacity building is equally important. Plans and procedures for functioning the PHEOC are also critical components and need to be developed based on the WHO PHEOC framework.

3. Planned timelines (subject to confirmation)

• Start date: 15 July 2021
• End date: 31 December 2021

4. Work to be performed: Output 1: To develop, strengthen, monitor and evaluate operational readiness capacities for health emergency management.

Deliverables

1.1 To map existing capacities of PHEOC and develop situation analysis report.

1.2 To provide technical input in drafting a 3-year strategic regional plan to reach 90% PHEOC implementation in countries of the Region. To develop quarter progress reports on the support provided to implement the plan.

1.3 To participate in the development of country training webinars, meetings and workshops, dissemination of material and development of PHEOC community of practice platform for the PHEOC cadre to meet virtually, share information and experience and seek support for building the capacity of PHEOCs cadre.

1.4 To establish a roster of experts for the support of PHEOCs at the country level.

1.5 To enhance the detection capacity of threats or public health events through the implementation of the Detection till response package in Sudan, Jordan and Tunisia, and discuss with other countries the expansion of this packages.

1.6 To conduct training and implementation of Event Based Surveillance, training on the concepts of Public Health Intelligence and training on the use of existing tools and standard operating procedures.

1.7 To support efforts to mobilize resources to countries to developed PHEOCs through the development of proposals and engagement with partners.

Output 2****: Supporting environment for enhancing operational readiness is established and maintained.

Deliverables:

2.1 To maintain the EMR Travel Measure platform and to produceweekly updates.

2.2 To To maintain the EMR Public Health and Social Measures dashboard and produce monthly updates..

2.3 To maintain the Online Signal Module (OSM) and provide regular updates along with monitoring and evaluation indicators.

2.4 To transform the STAR tool for risk profiling into an online platform.

2.5 To maintain the electronic Public health emergency risk management (eHERM) Phase 1 and provide the needed updates and system’s bug fixes.

2.6 To pilot test the ePHERM software in Sudan, Jordan and Tunisia, and other requesting countries.

2.7 To support in developing a training package for the use of ePHERM and follow up on country requests related required cloud/on-premise hosting installation.

2.8 To resume development of ePHERM Phase 2 to include logistics, administration and finance modules.

5. Technical Supervision

The selected Consultant will work on the supervision of:

Responsible Officer:

Dr Dalia Samhouri, Manager, CPI/WHE

Manager:

Dr Rick Brennan, Director, WHE/EMRO

6. Qualifications required:

Minimum first level university degree in computer science, information technology is required.

Advanced university degree in Public Health will be an asset.

- Experience required:

• At least 5 years related experience in data management for public health purposes, coordination platforms, capacity development and material development
• Demonstrated previous experience working within the health sector, ideally at a country-level.
• Demonstrated previous experience on programming and designing software and electronic platforms for data sharing and management.
• Demonstrated experience in research mythology, data collections tools, analysis and reporting.
• Demonstrated understanding of the public health preparedness for health emergencies

- Skills / Technical skills and knowledge:

• Excellent knowledge of Microsoft office, programming languages and software solutions
• Demonstrated capacity to work within different cultures
• Demonstrated ability to interact in complex situations involving technical, cultural and political elements
• Demonstrated ability in coordination with local, national and international entities, project planning and management.

- Language requirements:

• Excellent knowledge of English and Arabic language.

7. Place of assignment

• Cairo, Egypt

8. Medical clearance

• The selected Consultant will be expected to provide a medical certificate of fitness for work.

9. Travel
   • This assignment will include travel but will be decided based on communications with countries.

All travel arrangements will be made by WHO – WHO will not be responsible for tickets purchased by the Consultant without the express, prior authorization of WHO. While on mission under the terms of this consultancy, the Consultant will receive subsistence allowance.

Visas requirements: it is the consultant’s responsibility to fulfil visa requirements and ask for visa support letter(s) if needed.

Additional Information

• This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.
• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
• A written test may be used as a form of screening.
• If your candidature is retained for interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.
• For information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int.
• WHO is committed to workforce diversity.
• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
• Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.
• WHO's workforce adheres to the WHO Values Charter and is committed to put the WHO Values into practice - https://www.who.int/about/who-we-are/our-values
• Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority. The execution of the work under a consultant contract does not create an employer/employee relationship between WHO and the Consultant.
• WHO shall have no responsibility whatsoever for any taxes, duties, social security contributions or other contributions payable by the Consultant. The Consultant shall be solely responsible for withholding and paying any taxes, duties, social security contributions and any other contributions which are applicable to the Consultant in in each location/jurisdiction in which the work hereunder is performed, and the Consultant shall not be entitled to any reimbursement thereof by WHO.